By Gloria Osemudiamhen
BENIN CITY — The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards sexual violence and all forms of gender-based violence (GBV), warning that perpetrators will face the full weight of the law.
The government, through the Office of the First Lady, said it was strengthening measures to protect residents, support survivors and ensure that perpetrators of sexual crimes are prosecuted.
The Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady and Chairperson of the Edo State GBV Management Committee, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo Anani, disclosed this while responding to questions from journalists at the Government House in Benin City.
Anani said the administration no longer regarded sexual and gender-based violence as a private or family matter, stressing that such offences constitute serious crimes that require swift intervention and justice.
“Zero tolerance means zero tolerance. If you are caught and proven guilty, you will face the full weight of the law. The State will not shield anyone, no matter who you are,” she said.
She attributed the rise in reported cases of GBV over the past 18 months largely to increased awareness and growing confidence among survivors to report abuse, rather than a corresponding increase in the incidence of the crime.
“GBV has always existed. The difference now is that survivors have the courage to speak out because they understand it is a crime with consequences. Silence is no longer an option,” Anani said.
According to her, the GBV Management Committee has intensified sensitisation and advocacy campaigns across churches, markets, schools and traditional institutions, with emphasis on the need for victims and witnesses to report cases.
She said the government was particularly concerned about the growing vulnerability of children, noting that cases involving victims as young as four years had been recorded.
To address the problem early, she disclosed that the committee had established GBV clubs in primary schools to educate children about abuse, personal safety and the importance of speaking up.
Anani also noted that some alleged perpetrators were themselves minors who might not fully understand the consequences or wrongfulness of their actions, making early education and intervention crucial.
Special Courts for GBV Cases
On prosecution, the Coordinator said the committee was collaborating with the State Attorney General to establish special and speedy courts dedicated to handling GBV cases.
She said the proposed courts would be similar to those established for kidnapping cases and would help ensure that sexual and gender-based violence cases are prosecuted without unnecessary delays.
Anani further highlighted the provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law, which prescribes up to 12 years imprisonment for rape and accomplices.
She said the law had been translated into five major languages — English, Pidgin, Bini, Esan and Etsako — to make its provisions accessible to residents across the state.
“The VAPP Law covers sexual violence, financial deprivation, and harmful traditional practices. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse,” she said.
Anani said the intensified crackdown on sexual crimes and GBV was in line with the SHINE Agenda of the Senator Monday Okpebholo-led administration, with Security and Justice identified as key pillars.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an environment where every resident of Edo State can live, work and raise a family free from sexual violence, abuse and other forms of gender-based violence.
